Amuk, We Stand Behind You

I've noticed a trend this morning in Mod avatars. Many have their old avatar standing in front of Amuk's avatar with statements like "We stand
behind you," "We have your back," and "Bros Forever" written on the avatars.

I'm guessing something is going on with Amuk...And I'm also guessing that this is something that members are supposed to pick up on, or so many
avatars wouldn't be changing. Was he hit by Rita after having gotten through Katrina so unscathed? Is he helping people out from the hurricane? Is he
in some kind of medical trouble and needs our prayers?

I know at least Keen's avatar hadn't changed yesterday early evening CST.
When I last checked one of the space exploration threads he was also participating in, he still had that cute potater vader avatar. So something
happened either late last night or this morning...

I'll tell you something else I noticed yesterday. Before Gazrok changed his avatar, his old one with the aliens in the UFO making fun of the
scientist looking through the telescope had changed slightly. The UFO had a do-rag on it similar to that which a biker would wear. Amuk is the
self-proclaimed "hillbilly biker".

Originally posted by RANT
Honestly I don't think that occurred to anyone. Avatars are changing for personal reasons. The intended recipient is the only audience in our hearts
and minds.
I hope that can satisfy any public curiosity.

Originally posted by LazarusTheLong
so please don't act surprised, when we ask for some sort of explaination, when you all have made a very graphic effort to support "something" and
then act like it is none of our business...

We're not suprised, but please don't feel this is a new contest or anything. Just very real support for an ATS "family member" of ours who is
having a rough go of things.

Don't expect to know more, because it really is a personal matter. I don't say that in a mean way. Its just the way it is.

Suffice it to say that we (staff) wanted to show our support. We expected others would catch on and yes, we have done this for fun before...but now is
not the case.

I'm sure the comments here will be most welcome so I encourage you to post your positive thoughts if you wish.

I am assuming that, since they've all got Amuk's avatar in their own and three of them have Amuk's name in the file name, it is Amuk who is being
supported here.

For the mods not to think that this one time many of their avatars change to something very similar people wouldn't notice is unlikely, though. Every
time there has been a themed avatar thing, threads show up asking about the ninja monkeys or whatever. If it is true that it never occurred to anyone
that people would notice, draw connections, and ask questions, it was done in a hurry without thinking through possible consequences. The moderators
here aren't dumb, and many of them, I'm sure, catch potential misinterpretations or fallout from potential decisions before they are made. In this
case, it appears that did not happen, so either it was intentional or extremely hurried.

If it was intentional, it was to bring attention to something that we will be informed of at a later time. It is not right for any of the mods to
explain about something Amuk is going through if he didn't feel the need or urge to share it on a public forum. Being a moderator of a website does
not mean your life is exposed to every member of that website. It is to Amuk to choose to reveal or not to reveal what is going on. Obviously he chose
not to when he embarked on whatever adventure he is now having, but he may feel differently after he has gotten back to us.

I hope if anyone is in contact with him, you let him know about this show of support and concern for him, though. People noticed, they
recognized the avatar and who it belonged to, and they were concerned and wanted to know more about one of our beloved moderators. Whatever he might
be going through, it might help his morale to know that so many people are pulling for him to get through this without even knowing what "this" is.

Best wishes, and let this be the thread to wish Amuk well, towards his personal struggles...

the internet makes it hard to classify someone as "friend" whom we have never met in person,
But in the realm of forums, we all hold a special place in our hearts for amuk...
for that matter, for all the mods and members that make this board what it is...

we wish him the best, and if it even needs to be said... "we got your back also"...(in the symbolic sense)

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